Species distribution modeling for a federally endangered dragonfly

As part of an Illinois State Wildlife Grant, co-PIs and I are working toward an SDM for Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana). S. hineana is the only federally listed endangered dragonfly in the continental U.S. and Illinois is one of 4 states in which it is still present.

Conservation status of Illinois’ state threatened dragonfly

Nannothemis bella, Elfin Skimmer, is the smallest dragonfly in North America, and Illinois is at the distributional edge of the species range. It is one of 5 odonate species of greatest conservation need and the only state threatened dragonfly in Illinois. Using an occupancy-detection framework, we are visiting historic sites in the state to determine the status of N. bella. 

eDNA detection of odonate metacommunities in an urban landscape

We are exploring the utility of environmental DNA detection tools in a metacommunity context to characterize odonate assemblages in urban northern Illinois.